Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-30
STRANGER THAN FICTION
Ene Project OF a Crank to conv,no.
Wise Men.


u'hs recent visit to the Eastern part
VI "'e state the Journal man made the ac-
quaintance of a commercial traveller who .
iamlliar with the country and the peonle
Ills acquaintance did not end here simn,v
ne knew the peculiarities of the people and
'heir history 1t so happened that the scribe
ana the drummer were the sole occupan,s of
'he stage as it left Machias for Lubec On a
very pleasant morning and, az the .ir ..
war;" and the skies clear, the two gazed
with much pleasure upon the MANY beaut;.
iul landscape scenes that were pre-
scented as the stage passed from Ma.
chlas to East Machias and IN WHITING
hi'er the coach had proceeded a mile or so
INTO the latter town, the commercial man
called the scribe's attention to structure sit
uated exactly on the top of hill. whose
summit was bare but whose sides were COW
cred with dense growth of spruce and pine
crossing bridge over large brook at the
1901 OF the hill, the road led up the northern
SIDE OF 1t, bringing the building nearer and
nearer when the nearest approach had
been attained, the scribe yentured the suo.
gestion that the structure looked more like
sawmlll than barn. That is what il il I
am told; saw mill or grist mill" The
journal man was surprised To say the
least and asked for further particulars "
The drummer replied; That mill was
built by "A man named Ea,as H..
religious enthusiast. He processes to have
great faith in the answering Of prayer. Be-
fore he built that mill he said he was going
to prove to his neighbors, that if anyone has
faith, the most insurmonntable difficulties
can be removed. He evidently sincerely
believed that he was going TO do great
work, TO confer great blessing upon his
neighbors and the world when it should know
Of his deed. Having some considerable
property, he built that mill, with that great
over shot wheel on the side of it, Under the
roof Of the mill he built an immense tank to
contain the water which should be conveyed
10 it by cutters on the roof From this tank
he ran spout. or hume | suppose you would
call it, to the wheel. He fitted the mill up
with some machinery, | don't know how
much, but enough at any rate to do some
manufacturing. But what about the water?"
asked the scribe, he certainly could not run
the mill only during heavy rain storms"
"Iere is the climax of the matter" said the
commercial tourist" he declared that God
would send rain to the roof Of the mill when
ever he prayed for it; he firmly
believed that the flood gates of
heaven would be hoisted at his duplication
not that he might run that mill simply, but
that he might demonstrate to the world that
prayer will be answered if there is only suffi
cient faith" but what did his neighbors
think of his project 2" well they were more
firmly convinced than ever that Estes was a
crank" Did Estes ever pray for water to
run that mill ?" well, he declares he never
did but has waited until his neighbors enter
tanned a little better feeling toward him and
his work At any rate the mill has never
sawed a stick and yet remains silent monu-
ment to one of the strangest ideas of one of
the most eccentric men in the United States
This man is no other than Uncle Estes"
who is well known it that section of the coun-
try.